This occupation is found in a range of sectors such as advanced manufacturing engineering, engineering construction, and maritime. 

The broad purpose of the occupation is to carry out metal fabrication work using things such as rolled steel joists, columns, channels, steel plate and metal sheet etc.

For example, aeroplanes and vehicles. They can also produce bespoke components or products for domestic appliances or medical equipment.

They use a variety of machines to carry out their work. For example, centre lathes, vertical and horizontal milling machines, horizontal and cylindrical grinding machines. Electro discharge machines, single and multi-axis Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machine tools centres.  Gear cutting and Gear Grinding machines.